Jointer fence



J 1935- w. J.VME-RRIGAN 2,007,581

JOINTER FENCE Filed March 22, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1. I

INT/ENTER WEZMEFEJELZJN July 9, 1935.

W. J. MERRIGAN JOINTER FENCE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1954 JNVENTUR WQZMEEEJEAN .EY TT 2 E Q a QTTURNEYS.

Patented July 9 1935 nNirEo vstars machine and which has a novel and advanta' geous adjusting means for adjusting the position JOINTER FENCE William J. Merrigan, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Herberts Machinery (30., Ltd.,'Los Angeles, Calif a corporation of California.

1 Application March 22, 1934, Serial No. 716,824

15 Claims. ;(oi. 144-253 of the faceo-f the fence with respect to the table surface 'so that the inclination of the fence with respect to the table can be easily and conveniently varied.

""' have the inclination of the face of the fence varied with respect to the table surface and to provide an indexing means which will enable the fence to be quickly and accurately adjusted to any of a series of frequently used positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fence for woodworking machines having a simple and novel means for adjusting the position of the fence and a simple and effective construction for looking or fastening the fence in any desired adjustedposition.

Another objectof the invention is toprovide .a fence for jointers and the like which is so designed that the 'parts thereof can be easily constructed from die castings, enabling fences of this character to be easily and cheaply constructed'in quantity production.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description,-and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for "an 'illustrativeembodiment of the invention, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a jointer table on which the'improve'd fence has been installed.

Fig.2 is a side view in elevation of the same.

4 upon Fig. 1

, Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 5-5, upon Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially upon. the line 6't of Fig. 5. 1

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken upon the line 1-! upon Fig. 6.

.rFig. 8 is a vertical section takenuponthe line 8-8 uponFig. 2.

, missis PATENT OFFICE Fig.9 is a detail inhorizontal section "taken upon the line 99 upon Fig. 4.

Referring to. the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the reference character Iii designates a jo-inter table which'maybe of any preferred construction or design. At one edge of the table, which may be considered the forward edge, the table is rebated as indicatedat it, defining a vertical shoulder l2.

At the bottom of the vertical shoulder there isformed a small groove l3, and adjacent this groove a longitudinally extending silo-t I6 isv formed through the table. .This rebated edge forms a ways for a transversely movable slide-or carrier 15, the top surface of which is preferably flush with the'top surface of the table It). The slide or carrier I5 is in the form of a bar having a rib or fin 16 formed on its under side which slidably fits in groove 53 so as to guide the slide or carrier along the ways and prevent it from thereon. The carrier or slide not necessarily formed of a'die sliding forwardly is preferably but casting in which there is cast on its under side a steel stud H. In

the preferred formof constructionthe top: of

this steel stud has a neck It of reduced diameter and on the top there may be formed a screw driver slot or the equivalent'indicated at I9. The purpose of the neck and screw driver slot is to enable the stud to be cast in the slide or carrier in such a manner that'the stud cannot bepulled out by downward forces, this being'afiorded'by the neck l8, and the stud cannot turn within the casting,this being preventedby the die casting metal 'enteringslot IQ. In this way thesteel stud ll. is rigidly and permanently secured in the body of the slide and projects downwardly therefrom through slot "Hi; Surrounding the stud thereis disposed an upper cam 20 having on its top anon-circular boss 2!, the sides of which slidably fit in slot I l, thus preventing the cam from turning. Beneath this upper cam there is a lower cam 22 having a handle '23 and the opposed faces of these two cams are so 'designed that on rotation of-the. means of handle 23 the cams jlo-wer cam 22 J by will cooperate to tighten stud H and slide, 15 downwardly, to lock the slide in any adjusted transverse position on the ways.

The cams are maintained on the stud by meansof a nut 24. -By swinging the handle 23 in one direction the slide will'be tightened and cast to be friction-ally held in any desired position. Conversely, on swinging the handle 23 to enable adjustment.

in the opposite direction the slide will be loosened Integral with the slide or carrier I5 there is a segmental shaped bracket 25, on the back of which at its left hand end, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 6, there is a protuberance 26 which provides an inner bearing surface 21 for the arcuate segment 28. The bracket also provides an outer bearing surface 29 for the segment 28, this being provided by a curved flange 30 which is returned as at 3| over the back of segment 28 so as to hold the segment against the back of the bracket. The body of the bracket 25 is disposed forwardly of the forward edge of the body of slide |5 so that the segment 28 is movable between the body of slide I5 and the back of the bracket.

The arcuate segment 28 is secured to the forward end of a fence 32, the face of which is preferably longitudinally grooved as at 33, facilitating the machining of the face and reducing friction of pieces of wood which are fed against the face to the cutter, not shown. The back of the fence is suitably reinforced with reinforcing ribs 34. The segment 28 is fastened to fence .32 by means of cap screws 35 having sockets 38 in their heads and the heads are recessed in the face of segment 28 so that they will not interfere with the free movement of segment 28 through bracket 25. The holes 31 through which the cap screws extend are in the form of slots so that there is a slight adjustable connection between the segment and the fence to permit correction of slight variations or inaccuracies in manufacture.

The fence 32 is designed to be tilted about its bottom edge as an axis of rotation or in some instances where the bottom edge of the fence may be slightly spaced from the surface of the table top the fence is designed to be tilted about a line coincident with the surface of the table top. To this end bearing surfaces 21 and 29 are arranged concentric with respect to the line formed by the intersection of the plane of the face of fence 32 with the surface of table Hi. The inner and outer surfaces of the segment 28 which engage bearing surfaces 21 and 29 are also arranged concentric with respect to this line or with respect to the bottom edge of the fence. Consequently, although segment 28 which is fastened to fence 32 is slidable within the bracket its movement is guided and restricted by thebracket in such a manner as to cause the fence to tilt about its bottom edge as a. center.

As a means for easily effecting an adjustment of the fence, an arcuate slot 38 is formed in segment 28, which is also concentric with respect to the bottom edge of fence 32. On one side of this slot there is formed an arcuate rack 39. This rack is in mesh with a pinion 4B, which is pressed onto a. spindle 4|. Spindle 4| has a shoulder formed thereon by a head 42 which is recessed in the back of the slot 38, which; is widened as indicated at 43. The spindle 4| extends forwardly through the bracket 25 and on the forward face of the bracket there is formed an integral stationary cam 44 presenting a forward cam face. This cam face is engaged by a movable cam 45 having a handle 46. The movable cam is rotatable on spindle 4| and is maintained on the spindle by means of a knob 41 which is pinned onto the spindle by means of a diametrical pin 48. On turning the movable cam 45 ina loosening direction by means of handle 46 the spindle will be loosened and it may be rotated by means of knob 41. This causes a rotational movement of segment 28 and fence 32 about the bottom edged the fence as a center, adjusting the fence into any desired position. When the fence has been adjusted, the movable cam 45 is turned by handle 48 into a tightening position which draws spindle 4| forwardly and causes head 42 to press the segment 28 tightly against the back of bracket 25. This frictionally locks the segment 28 and fence in adjusted position.

A series of graduations indicated at 49 are formed on the forward face of segment 28 near its outer arcuate edge and these are arranged to pass beneath the pointer or index 58 which is fastened as by a screw 5| to the outer face of bracket 25 so as to project over an opening 52 formed in the bracket. In the preferred form of construction the zero graduation on this scale is so arranged that when it is beneath pointer 53 the face of fence 32 will be absolutely vertical. The scale extends in both directions from this zero graduation so as to indicate the number of degrees that the fence is moved from the vertical in either direction in adjusting the fence.

In woodworking tools of this character there are certain positions or inclinations of the fence that are more frequently utilized. The present fence construction enables a quick adjustmentand an accurate setting of the fence in any of these frequently used positions. To this end bracket 25 has an internally threaded boss 53 formed on its flange 30. This receives a tubular body 54 in which is disposed a spring pressed plunger 55 which is urged inwardly by a spring 56. The plunger has a handle or knob 51 by which it can be retracted to enable'adjustment.

On the back of segment 28 there is formed an.

arcuate groove 58 and slots or openings 59 are cut or formed in the outer surface of segment 28 so as to communicate with this groove. These slots or openings are located at regular intervals, such as for example, every fifteen degrees along the outer periphery of segment 28. They are designed to receive the inner end of plunger 55. The slots or openings 59 preferably have tapered walls and the end of plunger 55, likewise, has a taper so that the entry of the plunger into the opening will tend to accurately center the segment and fence on a fifteen degree position or any position which is a multiple of fifteen degrees In utilizing this form of construction, which is a type of indexing means, cam 45 is loosened to enable the segmentto be adjusted by rotating spindle 4|. The plunger is retracted by knob 51 while the segment is being adjusted and as the segment approaches the desired position the plunger is released. When it enters the slot or opening 59 it effectively locks the fence in the desired position. When this indexing means is used it is unnecessary to tighten spindle 4| to lock the parts in adjusted position. The tighten-' ing of spindle His most advantageously "employed to lock the parts in an adjusted position which is intermediate those positions which can be set by the indexing plunger 55.

The slide l5 with its integral bracket may be made of a single die casting. The segment 28 and the fence 32 may also be made of die castings. The movable cams 22 and 45 may be counterparts or duplicates of each other, thus reducing the number of different parts. This ability to make the various parts from die castings greatl simplifies manufacture of the improved fence on quantity production. At the same time adequate adjustment is provided to compensate for any inaccuracies so that the finished article will be accurate in its operation, that is,adjusting the plane of the face ofthe fence 32 the correct number of degrees of inclination with respect to the table'topthat willbe indicated on scale 49. @By the improved construction it is possible to firstbring about a transverse adjustment of the fence with respect to the table. The fence can be adjusted so that its bottom, which is any desired distance from the cutter and the slide, can then be locked in position. After the slide or carrier has been locked rotationaladjustment of 'the fence in no way incidentally brings out any change in the distance between the bottom of the fence and the cutter so thatadjustments of inclination are absolutely independent of and do not afiect the transverse adjustment of the fence with respect'to the cutter. i

It will be noted that when the fence 32, as viewed on Fig. 1, is moved. downwardly, that the end of the slide or carrier moves into a projecting or overhanging position with respect to the table. When the jointer is being used for rabbeting or similar purposes where the cutter is only taking a very narrowcut this overhanging portion of the slide forms an overhanging support for the work that is being fed into the cutter.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: y

l. A fence for jointersand the like comprising a fence, an arcuate segment secured to the fence, a bracket presenting inner and outer arcuate surfaces which are concentric with respect to the bottom edge of the fence and between which inner and outer edges of the segment fit and are slidable to rotatably adjust the fence about its bottom edge a center, and for fastening the arcuate segment and fence in ad justed position relatively to the bracket.

2. A fence for jointers and the like comprising a fence, an arcuate segment secured to the fence, a bracket presenting inner and outer arcuate surfaces which are concentric with respect to the bottom edge of the fence and between which the inner and outer edgesof thearcuate segment fit and are slidableto rotatably adjust the fence about its bottomedge'as a center, and indexing means on the bracket engageable with the outer edge of the segment for locking the segment and fence in adjusted position relatively to the bracket.

3. A fence for jointers and the like comprising a fence, an arcuate segment secured to the fence, a bracket presenting inner and outer arcuate surfaces which are concentric with respect to the bottom edge of the fence and between which the arcuate segment is slidable to rotatably adjust the fence about its bottom edge as a center, a spindlerotatably mounted upon the bracket, a pinion on the spindle, an arcuate rack on the segment disposed inwardly of its outer edge with which the pinion meshes and by which the segment may be adjusted on rotation of the spindle, and means for fastening the segment and fence in adjusted position relatively to the bracket.

4. A fence for jointers and the like comprising a fence, an arcuate segment secured thereto, a bracket engageable with the segment and guiding its movement for rotation about the bottom edge of the fence, a spindle rotatably mounted upon the bracket, a pinion on the spindle, and a rack on the segment engageable by the pinion whereby upon rotation of the spindle the segment and fence may be adjusted, said spindle having'a shoulder thereon engageable with the segment, and means for tighteningthe spindle longitudinally to cause the shoulder to tighten the segment against the bracket and thus fasten the whereby upon rotation of the spindle the segment and fence may be adjusted, said spindle having a shoulder thereon engageable with the segment, a cam on the bracket surrounding the spindle, and a handled cam rotatable on the spindle and cooperative with the cam on the bracket to tighten the spindle and thus fasten the segment and fence in adjusted position relatively to the bracket.

6. A fence for jointers and the like comprising a fence, an arcuate segment secured thereto presenting inner and outer surfaces concentric with respect to the bottom of the fence, a bracket presenting surfaces engageable with said concentric surfaces and serving to guide the segment in rotation about the bottom of the fence as a center, a spindle rotatably mounted upon the bracket extending through a slot in the segment, a pinion on the spindle, an arcuate rack on one side of the slot with which the pinion meshes, and means for rotating the spindle to produce movement of the fence and segment.

'7. A fence for jointers and the like comprising a fence, an arcuate segment secured thereto presenting inner and outer surfaces concentric with respect to the bottom of the fence, a bracket presenting surfaces engageable with said concentric surfaces and serving to guide the segment in rota-- tion about the bottom of the fence as a center, a spindle rotatably mounted upon the bracket ex" tending through a slot in the segment, a pinion on the spindle, an arcuate rack on one side of the slot with which the pinion meshes, means for rotating the spindle to produce movement of the fence and segment, a head on the spindle engageable with the back of the segment, and means for tightening the spindle forwardly to clamp the segmentagainst the bracket in adjusted position. I

8. A fence for jointers and the like comprising a fence, an arcuate segment secured thereto presenting inner and outer surfaces concentric with respect to the bottom of the fence, a bracket presenting surfaces engageable with said concentric surfaces and serving to guide the segment in rotation about the bottom of the fence as a center,

.a spindle rotatably mounted upon the bracket extending through a slot in the segment, a pinion on the spindle, an arcuate rack on one side of the slot with which the pinion meshes, means for rotating the spindle to produce movement of the fence and segment, said outer concentric surface being slotted, and indexing means mounted on the bracket adapted to enter the slots to lock the segment and fence in any one of several frequently used positions.

9. In a fence construction for jointers and the like, a table having a rebated edge providing ways, a slide movable on the ways, a stud secured to the bottom of the slide and extending through a slot in the ways, an upper cam having a portion slidably fitting in the slot, and a handled cam rotatably mounted on the stud adapted on tightening to cooperate with the upper cam to tighten the slide down on the ways.

10. In a fence construction for jointers and the like, a table having a rebated edge providing ways, a slide movable on the ways, a stud secured to the bottom of the slide and extending througha slot in the ways, an upper cam having a portion slidably fitting in the slot, a handled cam rotatably mounted on the stud adapted on tightening to cooperate with the upper cam to tighten the slide down on the ways, said ways having a groove formed thereon, and a rib or fin on the slide slidably fitting said groove.

11. A fence for jointers and the like, comprising a fence, an arcuate segment secured thereto presenting inner and outer edges concentric with respect to the bottom edge of the fence, a bracket engageable with the inner and outer edges of the arcuate segment and guiding its movement for rotation about the bottom edge of the fence, and means forming a pinion and rack connection between the bracket and the segment disposed inwardly of the outer edge of the segment whereby on rotation of the pinion the segment and fence may be adjusted.

12. A fence for jointers and the like, comprising a fence, an arcuate segment presenting inner and outer edges concentric with the bottom edge of the fence secured thereto, a bracket engageable with the inner and outer edges of the segment and guiding its movement for rotation about the bottom edge of the fence, a spindle rotatably mounted upon the bracket, a pinion on the spindle, there being a slot formed in the segment, and a rack formed on one side of the slot engageable by the pinion, whereby upon rotation of the spindle the segment and fence may be adjusted.

13. In a woodworking tool, means providing a base, an arcuate segment mounted upon the base for rotation relatively thereto about its center of curvature, there being a concentric slot formed in the segment, rack teeth formed on a side of the slot, a spindle mounted for rotation upon the base, a pinion on the spindle meshing with the rack, means for rotating the spindle to cause the pinion to shift the segment with respect to the rack, means providing a fence associated with the segment so as to be shifted thereby with respect to the base, said spindle having a head thereon larger than the slot and adjacent said pinion engageable with the side of the segment remote from the base, and means for causing an axial tension to be imposed upon the spindle to cause the head to clamp the segment against the base.

14. In a woodworking tool, means providing a base, an arcuate segment mounted upon the base for rotation relatively to the base about its center of curvature, there being a concentric slot formed in the segment, rack teeth formed on a side of the slot, a spindle mounted for rotation upon the base, a pinion on the spindle meshing with the rack, means for rotating the spindle to cause the pinion to shift the segment with respect to the rack, means providing a fence associated with the segment so as to be shifted thereby with respect to the base, said spindle having a head thereon larger than the slot and adjacent said pinion engageable with the side of the segment remote from the base, means for causing an axial tension to be imposed upon the spindle to cause the head to clamp the segment against the base, and spring urged indexing means on the base adapted to enter recesses in the segment to hold the segment in frequently used positions.

15. In a woodworking tool, means providing a base, an arcuate segment mounted upon the base for rotation relatively to the base about its center of curvature, there being a concentric slot formed in the segment, rack teeth formed on a side of the slot, a spindle mounted for rotation upon the base, a pinion on the spindle meshing with the rack, means for rotating the spindle to cause the pinion to shift the segment with respect to the rack, means providing a fence associated with the segment so as to be shifted thereby with respect to the base, said spindle having a bead thereon larger than the slot and adjacent said pinion engageable with the side of the segment remote from the base, and means for causing an axial tension to be imposed upon the spindle to cause the head to clamp the segment against the base, said head being recessed in a side of the segment.

WM. J. MERRIGAN. 

